A well-known researcher is projecting that the local ad market will continue to experience revenue drop-offs. More startling: the forecast covers the next five years--during which, some experts have predicted, the economy will presumably begin its turnaround. ...Read the whole story

Gannett Co.'s credit rating has been downgraded from investment status to "junk" status by Moody's Investors Service. With the decision, virtually every major newspaper publisher in the country is now designated "junk" for credit purposes, meaning it will be difficult, if not impossible, for them to borrow money. ...Read the whole story

The Rocky Mountain News, one of two newspapers serving the Denver area, will print its last edition on Friday. The newspaper, founded in 1859, documented the changes and upheavals of the Wild West era, but its venerable past couldn't save it from the vagaries of the present. ...Read the whole story

Interpublic, the parent of Initiative, Universal McCann and other Mediabrands operations, this morning reported a healthy gain for calendar 2008, but declining revenues for the fourth quarter, reflecting the impact of downward economic pressure on demand for the companies advertising and marketing services. ...Read the whole story

ABC may have found at least a partial buffer against declining prices in the Oscar telecast: increasing the number of minutes sold to the highest level since 2004. TNS Media reported the network sold 26 minutes of ad time, up from 24 in 2007, and the most since 26 in 2004. ...Read the whole story

Big increases in Oscar.com traffic and page views were the result of last Sunday's Academy Awards. The site, a joint production of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences and Disney-ABC TV Group's digital media, took in more than 3.1 million unique visitors on the day of the program--a gain of 91%. ...Read the whole story

Baseball Digest has had only a token Internet presence and has used the Web mainly as a way to gain subscribers. BaseballDigest.com, the new online destination for the 67-year-old magazine that Norman Jacobs has owned since 1969, will not offer any of the print publication's content. Instead, the aim is to draft off the brand and build what amounts to a separate business. ...Read the whole story